Tomatoes Gardening
Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable in any garden. Tomatoes gardening are no big hassle. It can not only be a good hobby, if well taken care of, the plants can give a high yield of good quality tomatoes for your kitchen needs. Tomatoes also adapt well to container gardening. There are various varieties of tomatoes including plants that yield small or large sized fruits. Common among the small sized varieties are red cherry, saladette and presto and large fruit varieties include spring giant, homestead, big set etc.
Preparing the soil for tomatoes gardening requires working at the first 8 to 10 inches of soil for some weeks before you begin planting. Ensure there are no clods and all trash and rocks are removed. Tomato gardening will be best if organic matter is used in the soil 2 to 3 inches of organic matter like hay, straw, compost, mulch or leaves should suffice. Cover the top of the soil with this organic matter. Also, ensure that the soil is not too wet or moist.
Fertilization is the next step. Tomato garden will be fruitful if you mix fertilizers at the top of the soil – the first 3 to 4 inches. It is recommended that you add about three pounds of fertilizer per 100 square feet of the area.
Tomatoes, whether growing from plants or seeds, can be successful only if you plant at least 2 to 3 weeks after the frost has passed. While tomatoes can be grown from plants, if you are keen on growing right from seeds, ensure you get fresh seeds and also get some seed starting mix. Plant the seeds at least 3 mm or 1/8 inches deep in the soil and wait for germination. Ensure there is plenty of sunlight and if you stay in a place where there is inadequate light, you can also grow it in a greenhouse and transplant it once you have a good plant. If you are growing tomatoes using plants, ensure you purchase disease and pest free green plants that have a height of six to eight inches. Ensure frost has passed away. Make holes with a depth of three to four inches and if you are planting several, separate them by two to four feet if you will cage them, and at least four feet if you let them grow unsupported.
Tomato gardening does not demand too much of work. Just ensure you water the plants adequately. Prune them regularly so that all the stems and leaves get uniform sunlight. One way is to tie them with a vine. Another way is to cage them. You should start receiving fruits of tomato garden in about six to eight weeks. Wait for tomatoes to acquire their full color before plucking them. Regularly inspect for any signs of pest or rot under the leaves but they can be controlled using pesticides and fungicides.